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Earlier today, The New Jersey Devils announced a slew of hirings in management and team personnel. Credit New Jersey Devils All of this news was announced through the official website. According to their announcement, these hires were led by three main figures. According to the title of this article discussing this news, the biggest figure is Chuck Fletcher. As in Chuck Fletcher, the former general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota Wild. Yes, Fletcher is with the Devils.
This is a total hire for the old boys network. According to the Devils’ announcement, Fletcher has been hired as senior advisor to the president, hockey operations and general manager. This will be a senior advisor to Tom Fitzgerald, Who holds that title in the organization. Here’s what the Devils say about Fletcher. I’ve bolded the parts where I think he can get the job.
Chuck Fletcher has joined the group, senior consultant PRESIDENT OF HOCKEY OPERATIONS AND GENERAL MANAGER. He will advise Tom Fitzgerald on hockey operations, including player personnel, scouting and contracts. Fletcher served as general manager of the Flyers from December 2018 to March 2023 and served as general manager of the Minnesota Wild for nine seasons (2009-2018), leading the team to six consecutive playoff appearances. Fitzgerald and Fletcher previously worked together for three years in Pittsburgh, from 2006 to 2009.
Ah, there it is.
Fletcher’s time in Philadelphia can be summed up in two words that have come to haunt him: “aggressive reorganization.” He was fired after the 2023 season. NHL trade deadline Because, well, he wasn’t aggressive enough, or wasn’t very successful at restructuring. His time in Minnesota was considered successful, considering he was there for nine seasons. The team made the playoffs in six of those nine seasons; every season since the lockout-shortened season in 2013. That was pretty consistent. He was fired because the team consistently failed to get past the second round, often getting eliminated in four of those six seasons. Philadelphia was a mess when Fletcher arrived — and it still is. If Fletcher had been more successful, then of course he wouldn’t have been hired. He’d probably be a general manager somewhere else. But that also means he wasn’t in the position because he was good at his job. I bolded that last sentence for a reason. He’s here because Fitzgerald is familiar with him.
This post by Michael Russo on X further supports this. He briefly told a story about how Fletcher had known Fitzgerald since he was still in the league, which meant that Fletcher and Fitzgerald’s relationship dated back to the three seasons Fletcher spent in Pittsburgh before taking the Wild job.
This also means there are a lot of voices in the foreground. I think Fitzgerald has done a solid job for Fletcher. The title is vague as to whether Fletcher will be on hand for Fitzgerald to bounce ideas off of, or if he will be involved in contract negotiations, trades, draft picks, etc. If Fletcher is indeed advising Fitzgerald, then I doubt he sees himself as having a voice missing. I understand that general managers typically have staffs and take a collaborative approach to many aspects of running a team. Even so, to my layman’s eye, the front office seems overcrowded. The Devils have two assistant general managers in Dan McKinnon (who was also the GM at Utica) and Kate Madigan. Both of those interviewed for the GM position not too long ago. The Devils also have Martin Brodeur as executive vice president of hockey operations. Presumably he has a say, especially on goaltending issues. There’s also director of player development Megan Dugan; head coach Sheldon Keefe; senior vice president of player development and performance Dr. Angus Mugford; senior vice president of hockey strategy and analytics Tyler Dellow; and director of amateur scouting Paul Castron. They all have specific roles and can and will be involved in at least some of the decision-making process that Fitzgerald has to make. Even without Fletcher, this organization seems to have the hockey operations covered both in-season and out-of-season. What does Fletcher bring that the others don’t?
Even worse: If the Devils fail again in 2024-25 and Fitzgerald is fired, does that make Chuck Fletcher a real candidate to be the next general manager of the New Jersey Devils? Fletcher, who has experience in front office and general manager, might be able to convince the owner to support him over someone inside or outside the organization. I remind you: Fletcher did not lead the Wild to the success they craved, and he failed in Philadelphia. I don’t want Fletcher to get a third chance in New Jersey. Even if we shamelessly assume that his purpose is to get Fitzgerald to do the opposite of what Fletcher suggested, I don’t think it makes sense to give him a job just for that. If he actually offers any advice, I don’t think it makes sense to add him to New Jersey.
Especially in light of another hire the New Jersey Devils announced today. Former New Jersey Devils captain and longtime defenseman Andy Green has been officially hired by the team. He is a hockey operations consultant, and the Devils’ own announcement states that he will advise Fitzgerald. Yep. Another advisor to Fitzgerald. Along with Fletcher, McKinnon, Madigan, Brodeur, and depending on the assignment, one or more of Duggan, Keefe, Doc Mugford, Delo, and Castren. How much advice does Fitzgerald need? On a more serious note, it’s an improvement to me that the announcement notes how Green has volunteered his services to the Devils. I’m sure more important people are excited about Green’s official return to the Devils. I’d be more excited, but you know, Fletcher.
Another major hire announced was in goaltending. Manny Leggs served as Columbus’ goaltending coach for five seasons before A career spanning 11 seasons in the NHL. It looks like he replaced Scott Clemson – I think He is the guy who held the position before — and will work under Brodeur. Given the system’s constant drafting and signing of goalies, Legace will certainly have a lot of work to do in providing advice and guidance to Daws, Poulter, Brennan, Malek, Yegorov and Louhivaara. As long as Brodeur lets Legace have his say and not be a proxy for EVP, I’m fine with the change.
While the Devils led with those three names, they hired a few others. Some of the scouts’ contracts may have expired, so they hired Mike Rooney and Mike Yandle as amateur scouts (in time for the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup?); Jeff Sanderson as a pro scout; and Tom’s son Ryan Fitzgerald as a “college scout.” I’m not sure what the “s” means, but Elite Prospects Listed former P-Bruin, Phantom and Comet American college scouts. The same is true for the Devils staff roster. Given that scouting is far from glamorous and that it’s just one voice among many, I’m more than willing to let the son of a former player and general manager prove his worth there. The same goes for Jeff Sanderson. Sanderson enters professional scout ranks for the first timebut he served as the Islanders’ development coach for two seasons in the distant past. He’s not alone, either, as Andre Savard, Brian Strait and Peter Horacheck are still with the team. These two amateur scouts have more seniority. Rooney served as a scout for Nashville and Buffalo Outside of the WHL. Yandle was a scout for the University of Florida and San Jose University. Apparently, they’re back in the scouting game after a three-season hiatus, and they look OK on the surface, since they’re basically behind the scenes.
The same can be said for other non-scouting hires. Corey Dietze could be the same Corey Dietze that worked with the Minnesota Twins a decade ago. It would be an interesting decision for him to return to the sports world. Angelo Serse now answers the question, “Do the Devils have a skating coach?” Katie Davis has a new title, though she will be more focused on Utica than New Jersey. Assistant Equipment Manager Bobby Juliano did get a promotion from Utica to New Jersey, with the title being Aaron Hoffmeyer filling his previous position. These behind-the-scenes positions provide value off the ice, and I hope the players and other staff members fully realize that. Having a quality coaching and equipment staff may not lead to more wins, but it definitely helps keep the organization operating at a high level.
All in all, if the 2024-25 Devils do well, return to the playoffs, or even compete for a championship, then a lot of the concerns will go away. As much as I lament the old-boy networks that pervade professional sports, I am ultimately a pragmatist. If that’s the outcome, then I can live with it. You probably will, too. That being said, I really don’t understand why Fletcher should be considered an advisor of any kind. Both in terms of the role and from Fletcher’s perspective.
Now I want to know your thoughts on these newcomers. Are you more positive than I am about Chuck Fletcher joining the team? Are you excited about Green’s return? Please leave your responses and other thoughts on these newcomers in the comments. Thanks for reading.
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